Bjorn Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 (edited) Six builds in progress. So let's start the seventh one! Looking very good in the box, nice details, even an engine that will be totally invisible... Edited December 7, 2020 by Bjorn 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 I always thought this was an impressive car back in the day. Good luck with the build, looking forward to seeing it progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 2 hours ago, JeroenS said: I always thought this was an impressive car back in the day. Good luck with the build, looking forward to seeing it progress. Nice looking things, but the brakes had a tendency to go soggy if you drove hard for too long. A heavy thing that took some stopping my memory tells me.... Quite a while since I saw one in the flesh as well - no doubt rust has claimed most of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Jinxman said: Quite a while since I saw one in the flesh as well - no doubt rust has claimed most of them. They were my favourite car when I was a kid, along with the Opel Manta (which had cool little wipers on the headlamps). I think I've mentioned the awesome "jam sandwich" police cars previously. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 My dad owned one of these, beautiful to drive but rust was an issue along with the legendary build quality of the late 1970's. Could have been a world beater had British Leyland stopped fighting the unions and focused on their products. Best of luck with the build. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigpen Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 When I left university in 1989 before looking for a "proper" job I worked for a car auction firm "trade plating" cars from customers back to the depot in Stoke-on-Trent. Up until then my driving experience had been my 1300cc Mk1 Escort and, my dad's mini metro. One of my first jobs was to bring back from Derby police headquarters to Stoke, along the A52 a 3.5 litre SD1. Hole in the roof where the blue light had been removed and only half a dashboard where the comms had been. And no siren, I checked. How I survived I do not know but I chickened out at 100mph.... 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpion Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 My Dad bought the 2600 version in 1982 when I was seventeen. We'd never known such luxury. Once I passed my test I was allowed to drive it. I have two enduring memories. The first was getting third gear instead of first at a junction. It didn't seem to care until I put it in fourth at 15 mph! The second was more serious. I'd been to visit a school friend at his farm in North Buckinghamshire and was driving back on roads just about wide enough for two cars at a speed which just about got me around the corners. I came around one such blind corner to encounter a tractor occupying almost the whole road just in front of me. Ti this day I don't know how I avoided it and kept the car free from visible damage. I hit the nearside grass bank quite hard with the wheels and recall my Dad having to get the tracking adjusted shortly afterwards. I kept quiet. I was at University at the time. I was gutted when he came to pick me up a few months later in his brand new car....an Austin Maestro!!!!! Apparently the Rover was too big for my Mum to drive. Mind you, I don't think she ever drove the Maestro either - a couple of years later he traded it in for a Vauxhall Carlton, which was a much nicer car. Sorry to hijack the thread with reminiscences. I'm looking forward to seeing this built. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Great looking car. Could have been a great car, but it wasn’t the time or place... What colour are you going to choose? Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 I've heard quite a few mentions of these 1.43 scale cars, but I've never seen one either boxed or built. So I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes 👍 It's a strange subject choice for Heller though, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 7 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said: I've heard quite a few mentions of these 1.43 scale cars, but I've never seen one either boxed or built. So I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes 👍 It's a strange subject choice for Heller though, isn't it? Well, the 1:43 range has a fair share of French cars but there also an Alfasud, Austin Princess, Mini, BMW 630 (yay!), Jaguar, Lancia, Land Rover, Benz 450 SL, Porsche, Range Rover and a VW K70. A pretty nice range! Hm... maybe I'll try one some time, I've never done 1:43 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimJ Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Nice to see this one making an appearance. It was around 40 years ago when I built mine so it's long gone unfortunately. There is one on eBay at the moment but I'm not sure I'm prepared to pay thirty quid for one. I've built a few of the 1/43 cars, they're nice little kits,. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjorn Posted November 23, 2020 Author Share Posted November 23, 2020 Started this one yesterday. Since this car was extremely rare in Sweden, (not even imported, we were stuck woth our Volvos and Saabs) but common knowledge for many of you, there are sooo much research I should have to do to get this one perfect in details. So I decided not no go there, and just build it OOB. A quick search resulted in that red seemed to be a colour that existed, and that also felt fairly 1970s. So Mr Paint helped me to cover the blue plastic: Perhaps a bit surprisingly for those that have followed international media coverage about Sweden's Covid 19 strategy, almost whole Sweden is sitting at home these days. So suddenly my 17-year-old son, (finally!!!) a little tired of too much computer gaming, decided to join me with an Airfix Aston Martin DBR 9, he bougt a couple of years ago: And to an even greater surprise, my wife joined us! Many years ago, in a weak moment, she told me that she one day wanted to try plastic modeling. Being Wallace & Gromit fans, I managed to find Airfix's Aeroplane and motorcycle. And suddenly we were three builders! Even our 21-year-daughter called us and was interested in joining us some day, having a half-built V-22 Osprey, started years ago. 2020 is really a year where the unexpected seems to happen all the time! But back to the Rover: Some detail painting followed, and the windows were glued in place. Fit was surprisingly good, they simply clicked in place! I decided to go brown for the interior. Speaking about what could give the perfect 70s feeling... I am still a bit confused about the existance of the engine, that will be almost completely invisible. I am also impressed about the details, given the fact that the model is more than 40 years old! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Family-friendly entertainment 🙂 The Rover looks nice, that was quick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Nice model. My dad had a 79 2600 which was no slouch, everyone now only remembers the 3.5 but the 2.6 was a virtually new design straight 6 and well regarded in the day, smoother and no worse real-world performance and better mpg. The later models had more normal looking cockpit, mk1 SD1s like Dad’s were aiming more space age. Bright green with vinyl roof our Rover was inevitably nicknamed Kermit... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 That's a lovely finish, I especially like the interior, well done. Looks like the family is having a great time together 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Seeing the interior shot above reminded me of a 3500 V8 I had many years ago. Gold with matching interior, not too dissimilar to your take on the subject. The thing that really jumped out at me however, is the square steering wheel. I had completely forgotten about that! The Allegro got flak over that shape wheel yet the Rover one hardly got a mention. I ended up doing a straight swap with my barber at the time for his Mk2 1600E Cortina, which I later rolled, but that's another story. Sorry for the thread hijack, the memories just had to come out for a bit. Tony. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjorn Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 9 hours ago, TonyW said: Seeing the interior shot above reminded me of a 3500 V8 I had many years ago. Gold with matching interior, not too dissimilar to your take on the subject. The thing that really jumped out at me however, is the square steering wheel. I had completely forgotten about that! The Allegro got flak over that shape wheel yet the Rover one hardly got a mention. I ended up doing a straight swap with my barber at the time for his Mk2 1600E Cortina, which I later rolled, but that's another story. Sorry for the thread hijack, the memories just had to come out for a bit. Tony. On the contrary, it's nice to hear stories like this - and with cars like those! Especially for one that grew up with Volvo Estates, VW Buses, Ford Fiestas and other boring cars. One could only dream of a cool car like the Rover! Or the Cortina! No wonder that I have driven Citroën cars since i was 22, they are at least something else than most other cars in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 This is looking very nice Bjorn . You must tell me the secret of getting your family involved - the only one showing any interest in my household is the cat! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 11 hours ago, TonyW said: I ended up doing a straight swap with my barber at the time for his Mk2 1600E Cortina, which I later rolled, but that's another story. Tony. Well done Tony, Mk2 1600E Cortina was my first car, red with a black vinyl roof. I spent more time under it than in it ! Rover is looking terrific Bjorn, my dad had a metallic silver blue 2.6 litre one, the interior was just like the one you have built. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjorn Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Finished! See RFI forum for the final touches, including MiG-27, dirt and small pieces of paper... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Wow! Very nice. If you ever get the chance read up about where the 3500 cc V8 came from (Oldsmobile) and who else used the basic block from Repco (in the World Championship Brabhams of ‘66 and ‘67) to Leyland Australia (in 4400 cc form the P76) and IMC (Irving Mcormack Comalco In 5000 cc form in John McCormack’s F5000 McLaren M23). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Another "Wow" from me. That's a cracking job you've done there on the Rover. Even today, it's still a really good looking car and a design that's aged really well. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Looking very nice Björn, well done! The design is just getting better with age. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 A very tidy build of a real memory jerker for me. There's a Maserati Indy in there somewhere, you just need to squint a bit. Well, quite a lot really. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Nice build, and that does look like a real Series 1 shade of red. Like the wheels, too. There are still a few hundred SD1s around, though they’re fading fast and more are off-road than on it. I had two. The first was a 2000, the one with the Morris Marina engine, so cheap it had wind-up windows (and for my side you had to fish the winder off the floor before you could use it) but it was still better equipped than the top-end Granada. The second was a 3500 VdP, which I just loved, but my god could it drink. Both had classic water penetration at both ends, although my second one was largely rust-free. Being a Series 2, it had most of the problems fixed, though not the water getting in. Both cornered like they were on rails, had a huge boot, five very comfortable seats. And in the V8 I might have seen off the odd Porsche driver who wasn’t paying attention. I’ve had better cars since, but none that I liked more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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